Back from surgery

Well, I'm back home after my robotic prostate surgery.

I'm feeling pretty "beat-up", but recovering one step at a time.
(The worst part was getting rid of the gas they blow you up with.)

So far, all I know is that my lymph nodes were negative for cancer
(good news).

I'm finding out about the pathology tomorrow.

Wish me luck (I've got my fingers crossed!)

-Rick

On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:19:45 -0700, prostwell wrote:

> Well, I'm back home after my robotic prostate surgery.
>
> I'm feeling pretty "beat-up", but recovering one step at a time. (The
> worst part was getting rid of the gas they blow you up with.)
>
> So far, all I know is that my lymph nodes were negative for cancer (good
> news).
>
> I'm finding out about the pathology tomorrow.
>
> Wish me luck (I've got my fingers crossed!)
>
> -Rick

Sounds like your surgery went well Rick. Now you can concentrate on your
recovery. Good luck with your path report. Keep us updated on your
progress. You'll have lots of help here with any questions you might
have on your recovery and the path report.

Vince

--
PSA 4.73 07/2000 @ 48
Biopsy 07/2000 G7 (3+4)
RRP 09/2000 @ 49 G7 (3+4), T2b Neg margins
PSA < 0.1 for 14 months post op
PSA .8 .8 .6 .8 04/2008 thru 12/2008
IMRT 02/2009 - 04/2009, 38 treatments, 60.8 Gy total
PSA .02 05/18/09

"prostwell" <prostwell@westernwares.com> wrote in message
news:deee6637-0b79-4fa1-958b-10ef937396cb@e21g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...
: Well, I'm back home after my robotic prostate surgery.
:
: I'm feeling pretty "beat-up", but recovering one step at a time.
: (The worst part was getting rid of the gas they blow you up with.)
:
: So far, all I know is that my lymph nodes were negative for cancer
: (good news).
:
: I'm finding out about the pathology tomorrow.
:
: Wish me luck (I've got my fingers crossed!)
:
: -Rick

Good to see you back, Rick. Good news on the initial look at the lymph
notes.


--
PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46
Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c
RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins
PSA <.1 <.1 <.1 .27 .37 .75 PSAD 0.19 years
EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47
PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 PSAD .056 years
Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 and every 4 months there after
PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 PSAD 1.4 years
Casodex added daily 07/06
PSA undetectable since; last checked on 06/04/09
Illegitimati non carborundum

Thanks, Vince

I hope your recent salvage radiation does the trick for you in
eliminating your stray cancer cells after 9 years.
Did you also do hormone therapy with your IMRT?

-Rick

Hi Steve,

The pathology was more good news (but sobering).

The Gleason grade agreed with the biopsy - mostly 3 with a small
amount of 4, mostly in the left node.
Cancer had begun to invade the capsule, but had not penetrated it yet
and all margins were negative.
I think my surgeon made the right call by not sparing the nerves on
the left side, ensuring a negative margin on the risky side.
(I'm hoping I still have something to work with from the right side
nerves, as far as impotence... )
There was also no sign of cancer in the seminal vesicles, which was
also a relief.

So, the pathology has now graded me as: T2c N0MX

Most of my pain has now subsided (unless I cough), and my digestive
tract is working normally again.

As far as continence issues, I leaked a bit the day they removed the
catheter. No leaks overnight, though, and none today either.
Peeing is definitely a different experience now, though, and more
often!

My next hurdle will be the 6-week PSA reading.
I'm not sure how close to 0 this should be (exactly?)

Thanks again to the group for all your advice and support!

-Rick

----

PSA 16 - 02/2009
Biopsy 03/30/2009 - T2a Gleason (3+4=7 left) (3+3=6 right)
Bone/CAT scan 04/30/2009 - negative
RRP 06/25/2009 T2cN0MX

On Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:02:50 -0700, prostwell wrote:

> Thanks, Vince
>
> I hope your recent salvage radiation does the trick for you in
> eliminating your stray cancer cells after 9 years. Did you also do
> hormone therapy with your IMRT?
>
> -Rick

Rick,

I didn't do any hormone therapy. Just the IMRT treatments. I get my
next PSA done in Sept. I have my bad days when I wake up feeling like
dog poop, but over all I'm good.

Next up for me is a visit with my cardio doc at the VA hospital next
week.

I hope you have a speedy and uneventful recovery. Having a good support
system at home will help. And don't be afraid to ask questions on here.

Vince

--
PSA 4.73 07/2000 @ 48
Biopsy 07/2000 G7 (3+4)
RRP 09/2000 @ 49 G7 (3+4), T2b Neg margins
PSA < 0.1 for 14 months post op
PSA .8 .8 .6 .8 04/2008 thru 12/2008
IMRT 02/2009 - 04/2009, 38 treatments, 60.8 Gy total
PSA .02 05/18/09

"prostwell" <prostwell@westernwares.com> wrote in message
news:6435bd9f-4914-40bb-a3ab-3ab4db9573ad@j9g2000vbp.googlegroups.com...

: My next hurdle will be the 6-week PSA reading.
: I'm not sure how close to 0 this should be (exactly?)

All your future PSAs should be <0.10. If it is greater, you may still be
cancer free, but with leftover prostate tissue. But, generally speaking,
<0.10 is what you're shooting for. Some like to see greater detail, such as
assays that give you <0.04 or even <0.003, but these can vary a lot and
still be under 0.10; so I'd go with that.



--
PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46
Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c
RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins
PSA <.1 <.1 <.1 .27 .37 .75 PSAD 0.19 years
EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47
PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 PSAD .056 years
Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 and every 4 months there after
PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 PSAD 1.4 years
Casodex added daily 07/06
PSA undetectable since; last checked on 06/04/09
Illegitimati non carborundum

On Wed, 1 Jul 2009 16:30:29 -0700 (PDT), prostwell
<prostwell@westernwares.com> wrote:

>The Gleason grade agreed with the biopsy - mostly 3 with a small
>amount of 4, mostly in the left node.

congrats! I think you came through well to get a pathology no worse
than the biopsy. My biopsy was (3+4) but unfortunately the path came
back as (4+3) - not all that unusual apparently.

Definitely don't cough. That was the only time I experienced
significant pain.

Good luck with the healing.

"prostwell" <Visit Gemini-aquarius7.com

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Affiliates)> wrote in message
news:deee6637-0b79-4fa1-958b-10ef937396cb@e21g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...
> Well, I'm back home after my robotic prostate surgery.
>
> I'm feeling pretty "beat-up", but recovering one step at a time.
> (The worst part was getting rid of the gas they blow you up with.)
>
> So far, all I know is that my lymph nodes were negative for cancer
> (good news).
>
> I'm finding out about the pathology tomorrow.
>
> Wish me luck (I've got my fingers crossed!)
>
> -Rick